Book Reviews

Bullet Nani and other Badass Indian Grandmas: Nanis beyond the stereotypes

The first generation of women of independent India carried within them important fragments of our history

The descent of Israel

The "best tool" for this diversion from criticism comes from a globally accepted definition of antisemitism endorsed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016

Creating a life in prison

Mr Farooqui describes in detail various aspects of Asia's largest and most famous jail - its food, atmosphere, his inmates and their backstories

Writing from the wreckage

Loss and grief are dressed up in impersonal statistics. But Palestinian author Jean Said Makdisi focuses on the grotesque and the suffering of ordinary lives during Israel's occupation of Beirut

S Y Quraishi's eventful life

The former Chief Election Commissioner of India tells his story with droll humour, elegant prose and, above all, a deep sense of humanity

The Story Of Your Life: Everything looks wonderful, just keep scrolling

All was sweet innocent fun for a while. Then the algorithm came along and ruined everything

Speaking of History: Separating myth from fact in India's contested past

Myths are comforting because they ask nothing of us; history, on the other hand, asks everything - curiosity, rigour, discipline, the willingness to be wrong

Courage Under Fire: Chronicles of hard-won lessons in crises and leadership

Suresh Narayanan's memoir offers thoughtful lessons in crisis management and leadership, drawing on the Maggi controversy, Covid-19 and crises across global markets

Down But Not Out: Style overwhelms substance in tales of startup failure

This book on founders and their failures offers flashes of genuine insight but feels incomplete

Shankaritya Kanpatimar: The procedural failures that helped a serial killer

An account of India's most dangerous serial killer who struck people at night in their deep sleep and remained elusive for years

Human First, Machines Second: A road map to restore faith in the human mind

At a time when AI has become a buzzword with companies and leaders parroting its transformational effects, this book ushers in a timely and pragmatic debate

The 'Bard of Google' spins a tale of tech idealism and disillusionment

Claire Stapleton's Don't Be Evil recounts her 12 years at Google, the 2018 employee walkout and her growing disillusionment with the company's culture and corporate values

Reading the smoke signals of history through the comparative lens of myth

This is a book about the why and how different myths from different cultures should be compared, writes Doniger. Comparison is critical to understanding mythology and other cultures

Ashes to Light: How patriarchy shapes women's everyday lives in hidden ways

From architectural designs that disregard women's needs to being treated lightly at work, this book is a compendium of the many everyday forms of discrimination that women face

Improving Nutritional Outcomes: Ground-level lessons for India's nutrition

As India moves from food security to nutrition security, this book serves as a guide for policymakers, bridging the gap between theory and grassroots realities

'What we ask Google' offers intriguing insights, but few fresh revelations

For at least three generations now, Google is like a second conscience. Simon Rogers, data editor at Google, mines our search data for clues into who we are becoming

Familiar optimism over 'Chindia' overlooks a changed China reality

Shastri Ramachandran's book revives the optimism of the 2010s, when every India-China engagement was seen as a breakthrough

Rivals of the polio vaccine and the race to defeat a deadly disease

The adulation served to marginalise the contributions of others, none more so than Albert Sabin, whose competing polio vaccine proved essential in controlling the disease

Engineering success at the IITs: The story behind an enduring brand

Prabhat Kumar's book traces the rise of the IIT ecosystem over 75 years, celebrating its achievements while prompting debate on whether India's premier institutes are ready for the future

Perfect Dream Girl: A bold critique of tech, desire, and gendered power

Readers can expect discussions ranging from the influencer economy, deepfakes to AI girlfriends, algorithmic desire, & the male loneliness epidemic - all packaged as witty letters to a faceless man